Rabies alert issued for south Orange

Health officials issued a rabies alert for south Orange County on Wednesday after two rabid animals were found in recent weeks -- including a fox that bit two boys.

The children, who were not identified by health officials, are fine and undergoing rabies immunizations to prevent infections, said Bill Toth, an epidemiologist with the Orange County Health Department.

The youngsters were bitten Oct. 7 and 8 while walking along a woodsy path in Hunter's Creek Osprey Park, one of the largest parks in the subdivision that is home to about 22,000 residents. The father of the second victim shot the fox, which was then tested and found to be rabid, Toth said.

The county placed rabies-alert signs in the park after those incidents, but officials decided to expand the warning to a wider area Wednesday after a dead raccoon tested positive for rabies as well. The animal was found in a residential area about a half-mile from the fox's location in the park.

"We got two animals pretty close together in a short period of time with rabies," Toth said. "This is something we need to be concerned about."

The alert extends in an area bounded on the west by Shingle Creek, on the north by the Central Florida GreeneWay, on the east by South Orange Blossom Trail and on the south by the Orange-Osceola county line.

The Health Department is urging people to avoid wild animals of all kinds and to stay clear of stray cats and dogs.

Suspicious animals should be reported to Orange County Animal Services at 407-254-9150.